CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Aug. 3, 2010) - Thanks to support from the Government of Canada, the University of Calgary will be able to conduct three new projects. Two of the projects will focus on homelessness research, and the other on international student exchange opportunities. Mr. Rob Anders, Member of Parliament for Calgary West, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

"We are pleased to be working with the University of Calgary as we understand the importance of research and higher education in helping to shape and improve programs and services in Canada," said Mr. Anders.

The University of Calgary will receive over $171,000 from the Government of Canada to help fund these three projects.

Of this total, over $38,000 will be provided through the Homelessness Partnering Strategy to conduct two research projects on homelessness among immigrants. The first project will focus on the needs of immigrant homeless women in Montréal. Twenty-two participants will be interviewed and asked to share their stories, so that researchers can identify the best, most culturally relevant practices and strategies to help them. The second project will focus on whether immigrants are more likely to be homeless, using various socio-demographics. The purpose of this research is to contribute to the development of better informed policies for newcomers to Canada.

The University of Calgary is also receiving over $133,000 from the International Academic Mobility Initiative to study and explore alternative North American health care delivery systems. This project provides an opportunity for 16 Canadian students to study abroad at institutions in the United States or Mexico and provide them with valuable international experience in alternative health care delivery systems. It aims to increase the students' understanding of innovative healthcare systems, as well as to enhance the development and technology transfer of new scientific tools and techniques, medical devices, and related medical biomedical studies in Canada.

"This funding will support important research work into the real-world issues of homelessness in Canada and finding ways to make our healthcare system more effective and sustainable," said Dr. Elizabeth Cannon, President of the University of Calgary. "At the same time, these research projects are providing invaluable opportunities for our students to learn by working alongside researchers as they tackle these questions."

The International Academic Mobility Initiative helps Canadian post-secondary institutions offer international learning opportunities to their students. This goal is achieved through the Initiative's support for student mobility and academic co-operation projects between Canadian post-secondary institutions and institutions in partnering countries.

In September 2008, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $1.9 billion over five years for housing and homelessness programs for low-income Canadians.

Canada's Economic Action Plan is building on these investments by making an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing, and by making available up to $2 billion in loans to Canadian municipalities over two years for housing-related infrastructure improvements. The Government's investments are creating jobs, stimulating local economies and improving the quality of life for many Canadians. To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

For more information on the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/homelessness.

This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

BACKGROUNDERS

Homelessness Partnering Strategy

The Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) is a unique community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness by providing direct support and funding to 61 communities across Canada. The HPS took effect April 1, 2007, with annual funding of $134.8 million for two years, and was extended in 2008 for a further two years until March 31, 2011. 

The HPS provides structures and supports that help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless achieve self-sufficiency and full participation in society. This model seeks to address homelessness by working in partnership with the provinces and territories, other federal departments, as well as with communities and the private and not-for-profit sectors. 

By working with all its partners, the HPS will maximize results to make a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable Canadians. The Homelessness Partnering Strategy provides the support that its community partners are seeking.

The Homelessness Partnering Strategy uses a housing-first approach, recognizing that the first step is to provide individuals with longer-term transitional and supportive housing.

The HPS has seven funding streams:

Regionally Delivered:

• Designated Communities
• Outreach Communities
• Aboriginal Communities

Nationally Delivered:

• Federal Horizontal Pilot Projects
• Homelessness Knowledge Development
• Homeless Individuals and Families Information System 
• Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative

For more information on the Homelessness Partnering Strategy and the seven funding streams, please visit the following Web site: www.hrsdc.gc.ca/homelessness.

International Academic Mobility

The International Academic Mobility Initiative offers international learning opportunities to students through student mobility and academic cooperation exchanges between post-secondary institutions in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the European Union. There are three programs under the Initiative: the Program for North American Mobility in Higher Education; the Canada-European Union Program for Co-operation in Higher Education, Training and Youth; and the Special Initiatives Program.

Since the Initiative was launched in 1995, more than 1,500 Canadian university and college students have gained international skills through stimulating study experiences abroad. New education technologies and distance learning allow students to benefit from the international linkages established under various mobility projects.

The Initiative works with government partners in other countries (the United States, Mexico and countries of the European Union) to support collaboration in the area of international academic mobility, curriculum development, mutual credit recognition and post-secondary students exchanges. Students learn from broadened international curricula and benefit from enhanced skills and knowledge as a result of the international dimension of their studies.